Cancer is among the leading global causes of death, and while progress in medicine to diagnose and treat the disease has immensely enhanced survival rates, some cancers remain refractory to cure. Metastatic or stage 4 cancer is one such cancer that is among the greatest challenges to be overcome by patients and oncologists. In this newest phase, cancer spreads to other parts of the body from where it started, and it can’t be cured by conventional medicine. Conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have been ineffective now, and individuals’ attention has turned to alternative types such as immunotherapy. Yet it remains unclear if India’s immunotherapy can be a Stage 4 cancer cure.
In this article, we are debating whether immunotherapy is an effective cure for Stage 4 cancer, but in India, in particular. We will also discuss the role of oncologists such as Dr. Vikesh Shah, who are working on the front line of utilizing immunotherapy to combat cancer and provide hope to thousands of Stage 4 cancer patients.
What Is Stage 4 Cancer?
Stage 4 cancer is cancer that has metastasized from the original to secondary parts of the body and is therefore much harder to cure. The cancer cells migrate through the blood or lymphatics and seed new organs like the liver, lungs, brain, or bone. This is known as metastasis, and after this has happened, the disease is in its worst condition.
Stage 4 patients of cancer only experience a complete shift in prognosis because the rate of survival drops significantly due to the widespread occurrence of the cancer. While treatments at times manage to delay cancers like breast, prostate, and colon cancer, even if they have advanced into their later stage, there will certainly be hardly any treatment for cancers like pancreatic and liver cancer at Stage 4.
Stage 4 cancer treatment is usually a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and other newer modalities like targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Is there any role for immunotherapy in Stage 4 cancer treatment in India? And is it curative?
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy represents a type of cancer treatment that seeks to draw on the body’s immune capabilities in the fight against cancer. Unlike other methods of therapy, which kill off cancer cells via direct external intervention, immunotherapy acts against the cancer by eliciting the action of the body’s immune response or giving the immune system some building blocks it can use against the disease.
The immune system is designed to recognize and kill abnormal cells, including cancer cells. But cancer cells generally find a way to evade the immune system, allowing them to proliferate and spread without control. Immunotherapy aims to reverse this, allowing the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells more efficiently.
There are various types of immunotherapy, each with a different mechanism of action. They are:
Monoclonal Antibodies: Molecules that are produced in the lab and can be used to attach to proteins on cancer cells and tag them for the immune system to destroy.
Checkpoint Inhibitors: These medications block checkpoints that prevent immune cells from killing cancer cells. For instance, the medications pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) block the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint so that T-cells can destroy cancer cells.
Cancer Vaccines: Vaccines that induce the immune system to destroy and remove cancer cells. Vaccines are preventative, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, or therapeutic, where they are given to treat cancer.
Cytokine Therapy: Cytokines are proteins that regulate the immune system. Artificial cytokines are infused in cytokine therapy to activate the immune system to fight cancer.
Adoptive Cell Therapy: In this, immune cells, typically T-cells, are taken out of the patient’s body, modified in a lab to be strong enough to destroy cancer, and returned to the patient.
Immunotherapy in India: A Growing Hope for Cancer Patients
India has experienced an increase in cancer due to reasons such as aging, exposure to the environment, lifestyle, and increased occurrence of risk factors such as cigarette smoking and obesity. The incidence of cancer is increasing in India, and demand for effective and new therapies has never been greater.
Immunotherapy is arguably the most hopeful cancer treatment in the world, including India. India has made significant progress in making immunotherapy a part of cancer treatment protocols over the last decade, particularly at top cancer institutes and major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. These are some of the finest medical care facilities in India, and many of them have partnered with global pharma giants to make immunotherapy accessible to Indian patients.
Immunotherapy in India is very promising because it can do more with fewer side effects than traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Besides that, immunotherapy is also not thought to be as toxic to normal cells, thus minimizing the typically debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy and Stage 4 Cancer: A Glimmer of Hope?
The question on everyone’s mind here is whether or not immunotherapy can cure Stage 4 cancer. What one should be aware of is that although immunotherapy is nothing short of amazing at treating certain cancers, the idea of a “cure” for Stage 4 cancer is complicated. Cancer is a complex disease, and how every patient reacts is not the same.
Stage 4 cancer always stands with minimal or no hope of a complete cure, but the cases where immunotherapy can significantly alter the prognosis are present. Melanoma, NSCLC, and renal cancer, for instance, have been discovered to be highly sensitive to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy has achieved partial remission, extended survival, and, in certain cases, prolonged remission in cancer patients with these forms of cancer.
But immunotherapy is not always certain. Some patients will not react to the treatment whatsoever, and some will have side effects that raise questions as to whether or not it will work. Also, immunotherapy is expensive and might not be an option for all because of cost or availability.
In the Indian context, immunotherapy for Stage 4 cancer treatment in India has proved to be a lifesaver for numerous patients who otherwise have limited options. Although the cure rate of Stage 4 cancer with the help of immunotherapy is yet to be established, the aim is to enable patients to live longer and enhance the quality of life in patients who are end-Stage in cancer.
The Role of Dr. Vikesh Shah in Immunotherapy Treatment
Dr. Vikesh Shah is an established oncologist who works in India. Dr. Shah has been one of the prime physicians to deliver the latest in cancer treatment, such as immunotherapy, to patients with Stage 4 cancer. Dr. Shah, possessing vast knowledge in cancer biology and treatment protocols, is outstanding due to his individualized method of cancer treatment. Dr. Shah satisfies his patients by offering age-old treatments blended with new-age treatments, such as immunotherapy, to take the best care of his patients.
Dr. Vikesh Shah collaborates with research teams and cancer specialists to create an individualized treatment plan for his patients based on the type of cancer, genetic background, and general health. Blending the newest developments in immunotherapy with his clinical knowledge, Dr. Shah offers his patients an integrated treatment plan that may involve checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and other immunotherapeutic modalities.
One of Dr. Vikesh Shah’s mantras is that two cancer patients are always different. With his individualized approach to cancer treatment, he provides his patients with the greatest possible chance of survival, even in the case of Stage 4 cancer. His active research and participation in clinical trials also provide his patients with the latest treatments, including immunotherapy.
Challenges and Considerations for Immunotherapy in India
Although immunotherapy has immense promise, there are certain riders and challenges to curing Stage 4 cancer in India:
Cost: Although immunotherapy is less expensive in India than in Western nations, it remains far out of the reach of the majority of patients. That would deprive the poor of lifesaving treatment.
Availability of Sophisticated Facilities: Immunotherapy requires specialized facilities and expertise. Large cancer centers in urban areas provide these, while rural residents may not easily undergo such therapy.
Heterogeneity of Response: Not all patients will respond to immunotherapy, and there are cases where the immune system does not provide a good response. The heterogeneity of this makes immunotherapy not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Side Effects: Although immunotherapy is less prone to side effects than chemotherapy, autoimmune response, weakness, and skin rash may also occur.
Final Thoughts
Cancer is a frightening diagnosis, and once it reaches Stage 4, panic and desperation set in. But with the new development in the field of immunotherapy, there is hope for patients who are fighting cancer that is at Stage 4. In India, where new cancer treatments are being innovated at a very high rate, patients can now receive the new cutting-edge treatments that were otherwise available in the developed world only. Dr. Vikesh Shah, one of India’s finest cancer experts, has been at the forefront of bringing the finest immunotherapy for cancer patients to India.
Dr. Vikesh Shah is globally recognized for his professional skill in treating all types of cancer, from highly advanced to only where comprehensive and personalized care is needed. His clinic in Ahmedabad has turned into an institution of reliable assistance for patients looking for quality immunotherapy treatment. If you, your relative, or your friend is undergoing cancer and looking for the latest and best medical treatments, there is one individual whom you can rely on absolutely, and that is Dr. Vikesh Shah. With his vast experience in cancer biology and patient-centric philosophy, Doctor ensures that every patient is given customized treatment plans based on his or her specific requirements.
Dr. Vikesh Shah offers the best immunotherapy in India, using the most recent research and technology to provide the best care. Whether you are fighting Stage 4 cancer or any other advanced stage, his Ahmedabad clinic is where hope comes into contact with expertise. If you want an expert cancer doctor who can get the best out of your survival and quality of life, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Vikesh Shah and learn how immunotherapy under his guidance can benefit you.
Your cancer care journey does not have to be a solitary walk. Contact Dr. Vikesh Shah’s clinic, and you’ll have loving care, the latest advances in immunotherapy, and state-of-the-art treatment options.